Combating Corruption

Corruption by definition is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Corruption is a very important topic nowadays, posing a significant threat to financial stability and security. A high percentage of corruption can lead to the dissatisfaction of people toward national institutions. 

Addressing corruption starts with all countries sharing the same vision or a common one regarding the commitment to taking effective and practical steps toward the prevention of corruption within their country. 

Hence, fighting corruption is one of the key points in building trust and achieving sustainable economic growth. 

PECB offers ISO 37001 training courses which will help you to effectively detect, prevent, and respond to bribery. The implementation of an anti-bribery management system according to ISO 37001 can show the organization’s commitment to effectively dealing with bribery. 

However, the requirements of the standard are generic and each organization has its own freedom to implement an ABMS (Anti Bribery Management System) based on its own needs. 

Reporting Corruption and Bribery

Organizations should be able to include programs and systems where their employees feel free to report acts of corruption or bribery, in an anonymous way. 

The responsible people for such programs should ensure that the employees feel comfortable when reporting any issue, in order for them to know that their voice is heard but at the same time they will not face any consequences for reporting the wrongdoing. 

Corruption should be reported not just because it is an obligation, but because it is in the best interest of everybody and the right thing to do.

The standard provides the main guidelines on the process of receiving reports for wrongdoings, assessing and addressing such reports, and concluding the case. 

When corruption is kept in check:

• Stability is boosted along with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law
• Economic growth in foreign markets is promoted
• Those engaged in terror, transactional crime, and illegal trades have a harder time to operate

Furthermore, the top management should make sure that when an employee reports a concern, it is taken seriously and the staffs’ concerns are given a reasonable hearing. The top management should also ensure to get as much information as possible from the person reporting the wrongdoing and keep such information in a safe place. Additionally, the top management should report such suspicions to the proper authority and not discuss them with any other person. 

On the other hand in case of any doubts or suspicions, the employee should write all the information down and collect as much information as possible before reporting it to the line manager, and that same person should not discuss the issue further with any other employee. 

Ways to Combat Corruption

Some of the ways that one can use to combat corruption include:

• Updating the anti-bribery policies and procedures – Employees have to understand what is accepted and what is not, based on the gifts and hospitality policies; therefore, organizations should be able to continually update the anti-bribery policies in case there are any changes to such policies.
• Creating an anti-bribery culture – An anti-bribery and anti-corruption culture should be created within the workplace, and that should start from the top management and board of directors. Everyone, from the business owner, directors, and managers should convey a clear message that bribery and corruption will not be accepted within the organization and that such acts will be punished. 
• Reporting bribery concerns promptly – It is important for the organization to inform their employees that they can report acts of bribery or corruption anytime. They should be made aware that they are free to speak to upper management and report wrongdoings. 
• Ensuring that gifts and hospitality meet the organization’s criteria – In case employees receive a gift from their client it should be made sure that such a gift has a legitimate business purpose, is proportionate, and transparent (based on the company’s gift and hospitality guideline).
• Preparing meaningful anti-bribery training – In order to raise awareness among your employees and organization, make sure to prepare a training that provides employees valuable information on ways that help them to prevent bribery within the workplace. Employees do not need to understand the details of the bribery acts set by the organization; instead, they need to understand the impact of the bribery on all humans and their responsibilities to act in the right way. 

ISO 37001 certification schemes offer more regarding anti-bribery management system and its requirements with guidance for use. 

If you are interested to know more about the certifications and trainings offered by PECB in relation to ISO 37001 scheme, contact us at marketing@pecb.com.

About the author: 

Vesa Hyseni is a Senior Product Marketing Manager for GRC at PECB. She is in charge of conducting market research while developing and providing information related to ISO standards. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact her: marketing.grc@pecb.com.